I was in Morgantown yesterday and that place seats 14,000, the seating is steep and the noise is captured big time. The students have all the courtside seats for about 10 rows on the announcer side of the court and were into the game from the start.
I tried to be the lonely voice of support when they went quiet and they called a time out only ahead by six. But, in the end, I just don’t understand taking Dawes out at that point and then only putting him back in late. He was the only one on the team that seemed like he could score. A bit of a mistake by Smith I say.
Late in the BYU game I noted to my seatmates what a beautiful building the Hunty is when it is packed with passionate fans the way it was that night. Would be nice if we could get a fraction of that for the visit by Kansas next Saturday.
How many additional wins might we have gotten with Deivon Smith? Impossible to know, but my guess is that we would have won 2 or even 3 of the non-conf we lost. Not sure we would be any different in conference games.
Every game it feels more and more like we are simply riding out the final month of the craig smith era at utah. First coach in a while to not make the tournament in his time.
I’m sorry, but getting outscored 13-3 in the final three minutes, that’s on the coach. And this kind of thing isn’t uncommon with Utah under Smith. He just isn’t the answer. Problem is, I don’t know who is or who Utah could attract at this point. The program hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament in nine years and has only been three times in the last 19. That’s unacceptable.
Thought exercise: Look at the roster of non seniors. Is there anyone you look at and go “oh man, we are screwed if that guy goes portaling this offseason?” I really like KD and Wahlin and hope that craig or no craig we can retain them, but other than that, i would just shrug at anyone leaving.
Madsens and Erickson are 5th years, Lovering is using up his 4th year, Lohner is in his last season … Usually teams with experience do a little better, but they just aren’t.
Ezra Ausar and Mike Sharavjamts are both Juniors, so maybe teams would shy away from only getting them for 1 year, but they could easily be poached (can Mike accept NIL? not sure if he’s a dual citizen). Zach Keller (Jr) has disappointed (he went to the same HS as my kids before choosing WF over Utah, then ending up with the Utes). Dawes is a Sophomore and could see him being poached.
I don’t believe anyone looked at the roster and thought this is going to be a 20 win team, but I do believe there are some players who could help Utah become a 20 win team next year if they can add the right pieces. Ezra, Mike, Whalin, KD, Milo, Keller can all contribute to a 20 win team if they are able to add some athletic perimeter players.
Can Smith add those guys? He was able to get Deivon Smith. Can a different coach get them? I don’t know.
I honestly believe that unless there is a huge influx of money, Utah basketball is not going anywhere. Unfortunately, I don’t see any boosters with that type of money sitting there saying to themselves if only Alex Jensen or Andre Miller or (fill in the blank) were the head coach. If one of them was hired, I would give $10 mil a year for the next 5 years to make that happen.
Beating KU by 2 at the half. Pretty fun to see. Utah was up by as many as 11. I don’t expect Utah to stay ahead and end up winning this. Can’t fault the effort.
